Teacher Val Loewenberg of the Prescott Charter School talks about what makes EL so powerful.

When students walk through the door in the morning they know that they are in a safe, caring community of learners who will be supported by teachers who have high expectations. They also trust that what they are learning is relevant and worthwhile. The staff knows that our work is with purpose and driven by real-life experiences. There is an overarching belief that we are serving each other and our community by creating life-long teachers and learners who will never be satisfied by just “showing up.”

My favorite expedition is called “The River of Life.” It focuses on the Mississippi River less than 4 blocks from our building. We learn and view the river through different lenses.  We think of it as a home, highway, and business place. Many of my students have never been on the river before our expedition. As a river rat, I feel so strongly about making sure kids experience the immense power of the river.  I think the most magical moment for me in recent years was when we were on a small pontoon boat cruising down the main channel of the Mississippi and one of my toughest kids leaned over and said, “Dude, I feel so small, the river is so big. Is this boat really safe? I totally get why people make such a big deal out of this.” This comment came between complaints about the really uncomfortable life jackets, bugs, and lack of a toilet on the boat, but I’m pretty sure that feeling of being small compared to nature will stick.